Greater Irvine Chamber Welcomes Its Newest Board Members

Friday, September 14, 2018

The Greater Irvine Chamber recently welcomed five new members to its Board of Directors. They are Orange County entrepreneurs and executives that will support the Chamber’s mission and serve in a fiduciary role.

As the long-term owner of an Irvine-based staffing and recruiting company, Vivian Atkinson has a vested interest in helping local employers grow and supporting the reputation of Irvine as a great place to do business. Prior to settling in Irvine, she worked in commercial real estate for Colliers International and McDonalds Restaurants of Canada. Born and raised in Shanghai, and having become both a Canadian and U.S. citizen, Atkinson brings a rich entrepreneurial and international perspective to the Greater Irvine Chamber Board of Directors.

Andrew Bernstein is an accomplished real estate attorney with extensive experience in the acquisition, disposition, leasing and finance of residential, commercial, retail and industrial projects throughout the United States. He also regularly represents clients in the structuring of joint ventures for real estate development and investment. His expertise extends into areas such as the acquisition and disposition of hotels and multi-family residential projects, the representation of both landlords and tenants in ground leases and office, retail and industrial leasing transactions, and the representation of borrowers and lenders in commercial lending and workout transactions.

Bernstein is a lifetime member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Chapter of the Building Industry Association and has received its Volunteer of the Year award. He currently serves as Jackson Tidus’ chief operating officer and also chairs its Real Estate Services Group.

“Jackson Tidus is a proud member of the Greater Irvine Chamber and I am excited to join the Chamber’s Board of Directors,” Bernstein said. “I look forward to working with my fellow Board members to fulfill the Chamber’s mission of promoting an economic climate that strengthens the competitiveness of local services, programs, and information.”

Barry Draskovich brings a unique perspective and business experience to the board from his current role as Vice President of Program and Contract Management at Parker Aerospace as well as past executive leadership positions with Raytheon, Honeywell Aerospace, and AlliedSignal Aerospace. His team was recently recognized as one of three international finalists for the Project Management Office of the Year award sponsored by the Project Management Institute.

"The Great Irvine Chamber of Commerce represents and enables the continued vitality of the local business environment. It is an honor to be selected to the organization’s Board of Directors," Draskovich said.

At FivePoint, Eric Morgan is responsible for maintaining and expanding relationships with the many groups that make up the greater Irvine community, which includes the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce, Great Park Neighborhoods, and local nonprofits. He also serves on the board of Orange County Forum. Morgan brings 25 years of experience in communications, public relations and community affairs. He recently joined FivePoint in July after serving in various management roles for 16 years at The Orange County Register and Southern California News Group. Previously, he served as an account supervisor for a PR agency in Newport Beach, and produced business conferences at the start of his career in his native Chicago.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in conversations about Irvine’s future and represent FivePoint on the Greater Irvine Chamber Board of Directors,” Morgan said. “I look forward to making new connections through the Chamber and collaborating with some of the brightest minds in the county.”

Sesha Neervannan has rich experience working in the life science industry helping develop medicines. Spanning over 25 years working for Allergan, Amgen, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, he has contributed to research and development of several marketed drugs that help patients in the treatment of ocular and dermatological diseases such as macular edema, glaucoma, dry eye disease, rosacea, and other conditions. He is also well recognized for several peer-reviewed scientific publications and patents and is a sought-after speaker in national and international conferences. Neervannan serves on advisory boards for non-profit organizations and consortiums dedicated to innovation as well as on editorial boards for scientific journals and magazines, dedicated to promoting science and drug development.

“I’m honored to be part of the Greater Irvine Chamber Board of Directors and help harness the rich talent and infrastructure in Irvine to enhance its life sciences eco-system. I look forward to working with the highly-talented members of the Board and the Chamber,” Neervannan said.

For a full list of the Greater Irvine Chamber Board of Directors, click here.